BC trades for Marion
trades for Barbosa
sets up a trade for Diaw (which was axed by Jordan)Inquires about Stoudemire
Attempts to sign Nash as a FA

anyone else seeing a trend?

In February, the Knicks wanted to send Stoudemire to Toronto in a deal for Andrea Bargnani, a person briefed on the discussion said. But the proposal was vetoed by James L. Dolan, the Garden chairman, before it ever reached the Raptors (who would not have made the deal anyway, team officials there said).

I always did find that the teams set up was BC trying to always turn us into the PHX suns 2.0 especially when Triano was coaching, he hired Casey for a defensive identity but start of this year made him move away from it for a "up tempo style" which isn't casey ball at all. BC's mentality is score score score its more exciting to win games like that be fast and exciting! that doesn't win many games.

I always did find that the teams set up was BC trying to always turn us into the PHX suns 2.0 especially when Triano was coaching, he hired Casey for a defensive identity but start of this year made him move away from it for a "up tempo style" which isn't casey ball at all. BC's mentality is score score score its more exciting to win games like that be fast and exciting! that doesn't win many games.

It's actually quite interesting as once Steve Kerr became the GM of the Suns, they brought in Shaq (who was the opposite of run and gun) to help on the defensive end. I think more GM's understand that its defense first, offense second - but I'm not sure if Bryan has figured that out yet.

The Suns were exciting but they never got past the conference finals and fizzled once they got rid of D'Antoni.

Actually to Bryan's credit he did bring in guys that were defensive minded once Casey took over - JJ, Pietrus, Fields, Lowry, McGuire are all defensive guys. I guess it would mean more if he had traded Bargnani already.

It's actually quite interesting as once Steve Kerr became the GM of the Suns, they brought in Shaq (who was the opposite of run and gun) to help on the defensive end. I think more GM's understand that its defense first, offense second - but I'm not sure if Bryan has figured that out yet.

The Suns were exciting but they never got past the conference finals and fizzled once they got rid of D'Antoni.

But getting Shaq didn't help. You're suggesting that the style Phoenix played was the reason they never won a championship (or got to the finals). I think Duncan and Popovich are the main reason. Haven't looked it up now (don't know where to get list for every season) except for the deffensive efficiency in 2006/7 on hoopdata - they were 13th, but I'm pretty sure they were generally average on defense and not terrible. A team's style should be fitting to their personal and to their best player(s). Phoneix had a good identity fitting for their personal (Nash/Stoudemire/Marion) and I doubt they could have done better against teams like the Spurs and the Gasol/Bryant Lakers playing a different style. To me, ít's one of today's basketball myths that Phoenix didn't win it all because of their style.

But getting Shaq didn't help. You're suggesting that the style Phoenix played was the reason they never won a championship (or got to the finals). I think Duncan and Popovich are the main reason. Haven't looked it up now (don't know where to get list for every season) except for the deffensive efficiency in 2006/7 on hoopdata - they were 13th, but I'm pretty sure they were generally average on defense and not terrible. A team's style should be fitting to their personal and to their best player(s). Phoneix had a good identity fitting for their personal (Nash/Stoudemire/Marion) and I doubt they could have done better against teams like the Spurs and the Gasol/Bryant Lakers playing a different style. To me, ít's one of today's basketball myths that Phoenix didn't win it all because of their style.

They were a rather average defensive team, while amazingly efficient on offense. I also agree that the biggest barrier to the suns, at the very least making the finals, was the Spurs.

But I think that also point out an important aspect of playoff basketball. Defense trumps offense. So even though the best offensive team in the league (and perhaps one of the best off all time) was having success, when they step into the playoffs and faced one of the best defensive teams in the league (and perhaps, when viewed over a long period of time, one of the best ever) they ran into a wall.